Volkswagen ID 3 engines & performance

You'll have almost the same experience driving the new ID 3 as the previous car, and that's no bad thing.

Throttle response is keen but still feels natural enough, and acceleration from low speeds is as smooth as it is immediate. There’s very little mechanical noise to be heard even when you bury the accelerator.

Steering is light and accurate and quickens off-centre, which makes the ID 3 feel nimble in urban use and easy to place. The car accelerates smoothly from low speeds, too.

Richard Lane

Deputy road test editor

The ID 3 shines in and around town, with light but direct steering, aided by excellent grip and a nicely damped chassis. Its handling does suffer slightly at higher speeds, which is to be expected as it tips the scales at 1933kg. 

On faster roads, the ID 3 cruises along effortlessly. Its power delivery is still as strong and reliable as ever, and a 0-62mph time of 7.9sec is brisk enough for accomplished everyday driving. Energy recuperation, meanwhile, is smooth. 

Once you reach open road speeds, the gusto with which the car initially accrued pace begins to gradually taper off. It’s all very predictable and, as such, it proves that VW has no ambition to present the electric car driving experience any differently from so many of its rivals.

Examine the finer details of the ID 3’s motive character and you might begin to appreciate it better. For instance, thanks to its rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive layout, it’s far better at getting its power down than some of the front-driven EVs.